Container and supporting unit



Jan. 10, 1933. W. JAY

CONTAINER AND SUPPORTING UNIT Filed My. 13 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Webb @4129 QMQk MASS.

ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1933. W. JAY I 1,893,624

CONTAINER AND SUPPORTING UNIT Filed NOV. 15, 1931 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR We (76' c] ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES WEBB JAY, 01 PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK CONTAINER AND SUPPORTING UNIT Application filed November 13, 1931. Serial No. 574,776.

This invention relates to containers for cigarettes and the like and especially to a device designed to be mounted on an automobile; this device representing certain improvements and modifications over the structure of the same general character shown in my co-pending application for patent, Serial N 0. 561,630, filed September 8, 1931.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a structure adapted to be mounted in connection with and behind the instrument panel of an automobile in a normally concealed osition above the lower edge of the same; and arranged so that a pull on a conveniently positioned handle will first lower the container so that it clears the panel and will then advance said container so that its contents are readily accessible to the operator.

The structure is also arranged so that while the contents are covered and protected when the container is retracted and not in use, said container is automatically uncovered and its contents fully exposed when the manipulation above described is carried out. The operator will therefore not have to bother with removing or replacing a lid on the container.

A further object of the invention is to produce a. simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is desi ned.

These objects I accomplish y means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specifications and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device as mounted in place and in a normally retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure showing' the container as initially lowered relative to the supporting lid.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the structure showing the container as extended.

Fig. 4 is a pers ective view of the container sup orting mem er detached.

ig. 5 is a similar view of the pull handle and catch unit Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a C-clamp adapted to be secured to the horizontal bottom flange 2 of the lnstrument panel 3 of an automobile. Projecting back from the clamp abovethe level of the same is a flat rigid cover plate or lid 4 having a depending flange or lip 5 at the clamp end which is adjustably secured to the back of the clamp.

Pivoted on ears 6 upstanding from the side edges of the plate at longitudinally spaced points are depending links 7 which at their lower ends are pivoted on the sides 8 of the receptacle or container supporting frame. These sides are connected by a bottom plate 9 either of solid or skeleton form as desired; and they are provided adjacent their junction with said bottom plate, with channels 10 facing each other. The links are arranged so that when the frame is disposed under and against the plate 4 (which completely covers said frame) the links then lie at an acute rearward angle to the plate. The links and frame are yieldably held in such position by snap action springs 11 between the lower ends of the links and ears 6 above the links.

Fitted between the sides of the frame and substantially the same size as said frame is a receptacle or container 12, having laterally projecting flanges 13 along its sides at the bottom slidably engaging the channels 10. A pin 14 depends from the bottom of the receptacle and rides in a longitudinal slot 15 cut in the bottom plate 9 and limiting the movement of the receptacle. When the receptacle is completely telescoped in the flrame the pin is then at the rear end of the s ot.

A handle 15 is secured to and depends from the receptacle adjacent its forward end so as to enable the same to be easily manipulated from a point beyond the instrument panel. A trigger 16 is pivoted on the handle and is provided with pins 17 or the like adapted to engage holes 18 in the bottom plate 9 when the receptacle is fully telescoped and yieldably held in engagement with said holes by a suitable spring 19 acting on the trigger.

In operation to lower and advance the receptacle relative to the support the handle is first pulled forwardly without releasing the trigger. This pulls on the frame also and said frame moves both down and forward on account of its connection with the links. The length of the links is such that the frame will be thus lowered to a level below the clamp and panel when the links are vertically disposed as shown in Fig. 2. The pull is continued until certain ones of the links abut against stops 2O projecting laterally from the plate 4 in front of the links, in which position the links are disposed at a forward angle and beyond a vertical dead center position. The springs 11 then of course act to hold the links against the stops and the frame in its lowered position. The trigger is then depressed to release the catch pins from the plate 9 after which a further pull on the handle draws the receptacle forwardly relative to the supporting frame and in a position in front of the instrument panel as shown in Fig. 3 allowing the contents of the receptacle to be readily accessible.

Upon the receptacle being fully retracted into the frame a further push on the handle will move the links past the vertical dead center position in a backward direction, whereupon the springs 11 will function to raise the frame to its normal position in enga ement' with the cover plate 4, without any urther push on the handle being necessary to effect this last movement.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container and supporting unit comprising a container, a cover plate for the container, a frame in which said container is slidably mounted, means supporting the frame from the plate for vertical movement relative thereto, and means for normally holding the frame up to maintain the cover in engagement with the receptable.

2. A container and supporting unit comprising a container, 21 fixed member above the container, a frame in which said container is slidably mounted, means supporting the frame from the member for downward movement relative thereto when a horizontal pull is applied to the frame, a handle applied to the container, and releasable catch means between the handle and frame; the container being movable in the frame in the direction of horizontal pull on the frame.

3. A container and supporting unit comprising a container, a cover plate for the container, a frame in which said container is slidably mounted, longitudinally spaced links extending between and pivoted on the frame and plate, spring means acting on the links to hold them at an acute angle to a horizontal plane; the container then abutting against and being covered by the plate, and means applied to the frame to pull the same horizontally in a direction such that the links may be moved to a vert'zal depending position and the frame lowered.

4. A container and supporting unit comprising a container, a fixed member above the container, a frame in which said container is slidably mounted, longitudinally spaced links extending between and pivoted on the frame and member, means applied to the frame to pull the same horizontally, snap action springs between the frame and member and associated with the links to normally hold said links at-an acute angle to a horizontal plane in a direction opposite to the line of pull whereby such pull will cause the frame to be lowered and the links moved to a position beyond a vertical dead center, and stops then engaging the links to limit the movement beyond such dead center position.

5. A container and supporting unit comprising a cover plate, means mounting said plate in a fixed horizontal position, a frame below the plate, longitudinally spaced links extending between and pivoted on the frame and plate, means to normally hold the links at an acute angle to a horizontal plane, a con tainer slidably mounted in the frame for movement lengthwise of the plate and covered by said plate when the links are in said angular position, a handle applied to the container to thus move the same, and releasable means bet een the handle and frame to lock the frame and container together against relative movement.

6. A structure as in claim 5, with means between the frame and container to limit the movement of the container relative to the frame.

7. A structure as in claim 5, with stops to engage the links after they have been swung down to a depending position beyond a vertical dead center; the springs being arranged to hold the links, against the stops and resist movement of the same in the opposite direction.

8. A container and supporting unit comprising a cover plate, means mounting said plate in a fixed horizontal position, a frame below the plate, longitudinally spaced links extending between and pivoted on the frame and plate, means to normally hold the links at an acute angle to a horizontal plane, a container slidably mounted in the frame for movement lengthwise of the plate and covered by said plate when the links are in said angular position, a handle depending from the container at the end thereof opposite to the direction of normal slope of the links, a movable trigger member mounted on the handle, and releasable catch means between the trigger and frame.

9. A container and supporting unit comprising a container, a fixed member above the container, a frame in which said container is slidably mounted, means supporting the frame from the member for vertical move- 1 ment relative thereto, means yieldably holding the frame up to maintain the container against the member, and operating means between the frame and container to enable the frame and container to be first lowered as a unit relative to the member and the container to be then moved out relative to the frame.

10. A structure as in claim 9, with means including said yieldable frame holding means for preventing upward retractive movement of the frame while the container is being thus moved out.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WEBB JAY. 

